Chapter 45 After Marriage
The guard with the big head looked relatively natural, but the eunuch behind him was clearly trembling with fear.
As soon as Jialuo stepped out of the sedan chair, she heard Fulin ask, "Is everything ready?"
The eunuch knelt down with a thud, his voice trembling.
"Yes, Your Majesty, all preparations are complete."
"Um."
Fu Lin reached out and took Jia Luo's hand. The security guard quickly stepped forward and opened the door completely first.
Jialuo glanced at the two holding hands and pursed her lips.
Nowadays, Fu Lin holds her hand more and more naturally.
Jialuo gently struggled, but Fulin only gripped her hand tighter.
“…”
Fu Lin seemed oblivious, glanced at her, and said in a low voice, "Come here."
The two stepped through the door, walked around a courtyard, and as they left the door again, Jialuo's eyes widened suddenly.
Inside was a huge courtyard, with palaces everywhere, and plaques hanging on the palaces.
Directly opposite is the Imperial Stables, to the lower right is the dog kennel, and to the lower left is the falconry.
"This is actually the Beast Taming Garden?!"
Galo was quite surprised.
Fu Lin looked at her with a smile and said, "Would you like to take a look?"
Jialuo naturally liked it; she was always surrounded by small animals when she was on the grassland.
The eldest brother's hunting dog, and the third brother's proud gyrfalcon.
She liked all of these things, and she even had a fine horse named Lion Jade that she had asked her fourth brother to take care of.
She first went to the Imperial Stables, which was filled with top-quality horses.
The fine horses offered as tribute by various Mongolian tribes.
One of them was jet black and shiny, tall and mighty.
"!!!!"
Jialuo immediately took a liking to it and wanted to touch it.
But the horse was clearly quite spirited; it raised its head and dodged, even snorting.
This means looking down on someone.
"Be careful not to get hurt."
Fu Lin stood beside her, offering a perfunctory protection.
Jialuo, however, didn't care at all. He looked at the black horse with great interest and praised it, "This horse is good. It has a good temperament, a majestic appearance, and is very awe-inspiring."
"Good-natured?"
"Of course, horses are easier to tame if they have a spirited nature."
The security guard standing nearby stared in astonishment.
One reason is that the emperor said the exact same thing to someone else last time.
Sure enough, the Emperor smiled and looked at the Empress with a gentle expression.
On the contrary, the Empress seemed oblivious to the Emperor's change in expression, stroking the horse's mane.
She asked with great interest, "Your Majesty, may I ride it?"
"Does it have an owner? Does it have a name?!"
The security guard glanced at the Emperor, and was about to say that this horse was the King of Horses, the Emperor's imperial horse.
Fu Lin slightly raised his hand to stop the security guards.
But Jialuo caught a glimpse of Fulin's movements out of the corner of her eye, and in that instant she realized that this horse was probably the emperor's imperial horse.
Realizing she had misspoke, she turned her head, her expression unchanged, and said with a smile, "I also have a fine horse in Khorchin. That horse grew up with me and is called Lion Jade. It is pure white and its hooves are as fast as lightning when it runs."
"Now that I see this horse, which is as black as ink, I am quite amazed."
"oh?"
"Lion Jade?"
Upon hearing this, Fu Lin looked at her with a warm gaze and asked with a smile, "The lion jade accompanied you as you grew up, so you must really enjoy riding horses?"
This really struck a chord with Galo.
The grasslands of Horqin are vast and boundless, and under the vast sky, there are countless stars.
Jialu, accompanied by several guards, often rode horses. When they got tired, they would let the horses graze and drink water by the stream, while the women would sit on the felt rugs, drinking milk tea and tearing apart beef.
When they get into a good mood, they'll drink some wine, and the loud singing mixed with the girls' dancing can make them have a fun and lively afternoon.
As Jialuo spoke, she became more and more nostalgic, while Fulin's brows relaxed more and more as he listened.
"Does the Empress like the Horqin Grassland the most?"
Fu Lin asked.
Jialuo turned around and glanced at the boy.
The boy's expression was relaxed, his handsome features carrying a hint of curiosity, without a trace of doubt or other meaning.
Jialuo thought for a moment and replied, "When I was on the grasslands, I was also curious about the prosperity of the capital, the misty rain of Jiangnan, and even the desolate desert of the northern frontier."
"But in this life, I feel the most peaceful place is where I grow up, surrounded by loving elders and friendly brothers and sisters."
"Life may be about seeing all things in this world, but in the end, we all return home."
Upon hearing this, Fu Lin focused his gaze on the girl's smiling face, but his brows furrowed slightly, and he did not reply.
"Would you like to go somewhere else to visit?"
He asked.
Jialuo was naturally willing. She went to the dog kennel and chose a puppy, deciding to bring it back to Yongshou Palace that very night.
On the way back, Jialuo, unusually, did not remain silent. She held the little puppy that was whimpering in her arms and gently stroked its back to comfort it.
Fu Lin sat to the side, occasionally reaching out to scratch the puppy's chin.
"The little rascal is quite strong."
"Gallo said with a smile."
Inside the warm sedan chair, the young girl smiled gently, her eyes filled with tenderness.
The boy's gaze remained fixed on her, then suddenly, as if he had thought of something, he said, "How about we call it Yuanxiao?"
Jialuo was taken aback and looked up at the boy.
The boy's eyes were dark, and as you got closer, you could almost feel her and the puppy's reflections in them.
"The Emperor bestowed a name upon the puppy; it is naturally the puppy's good fortune."
Jialu looked down at the little dog that was trembling as it raised its head, seemingly wanting to look at her. She smiled and called softly, "Yuanxiao, little Yuanxiao."
Then she saw a long, slender hand with distinct knuckles gently rubbing the puppy's head.
The boy's soothing voice rang out: "Thousands of doors, locks, and lights shine."
"The Lantern Festival marks the beginning of a new year, and from this day forward, the puppy will be happy every day by your side."
"I also hope it will come to your side, so that you can be happy every day."
After Fu Lin finished speaking, he withdrew his hand.
When Jialuo looked up at him, he had closed his eyes, seemingly a little tired. Jialuo didn't say anything and quietly held Yuanxiao in her arms.
Once back in the yard, Emerald and Agate were extremely fond of the puppy in front of them.
When they learned that the name was "Yuanxiao," they took turns holding the puppy.
Jialuo was also very pleased and immediately instructed the palace maid to sew a little nest for Yuanxiao, and also sent someone to the dog kennel to ask carefully how to feed the puppy.
Fu Lin did not come to Yongshou Palace today, which made Jia Luo happy to have some peace and quiet.
When a puppy was introduced to Yongshou Palace, Angel was the first to be overjoyed. She stayed by the puppy's side and didn't even want to eat lunch.
Galo insisted on putting up screens around the courtyard and setting the food on the table in the courtyard before Angel finally stood up and ate a few bites.
"Sixth Sister, what's this?"
After Angel stood up, she saw Emerald carefully cutting a duck with a knife, with small compartments of vegetables placed around her.
"Roast duck, it's delicious. Go wash your hands."
Angel agreed this time. She was led by her maid to wash her hands and then obediently ate her lunch.
After a while, it was announced that the newly appointed concubine was coming to pay her respects.
Jialuo was stunned for a moment before realizing who it was, and quickly said to Emerald, "Go, bring another stool and set out a set of bowls and chopsticks."
Seeing this, the young eunuch went out and let the concubine enter.
Tong Yi looks different today than before; she's wearing an apricot-pink cheongsam.
She wore her hair in two buns, each adorned with a beautiful plum blossom-shaped hairpin.
A smile graced her round face.
"This humble servant greets Your Majesty the Empress."
Jialuo stood up, grabbed Tong Yi's arm, and said with a smile, "Come on, there's no need to stand on ceremony here."
"Your Majesty, I have just settled in and have come to pay my respects."
"Okay, that's good."
Angel, who was standing nearby, suddenly spoke up and asked, "Which palace do you live in?"
Tong Yi hadn't seen her before, but was startled when she suddenly spoke.
“This is my younger sister, Consort Ke.”
"This humble servant greets Consort Ke."
Angel, acting like a little adult, stood up and returned the greeting.
"Consort Tong, you may dispense with the formalities."
Her appearance made Jialuo's eyes crinkle into a smile.
Tong Yi said to Angel very seriously, "I didn't know you were here, so I didn't pay my respects. Please forgive me, Consort Ke."
Angel waved her hand, sat back down on the stool, and said, "It's nothing."
Jialuo then spoke, "Yi'er, would you like to eat?"
Tong Yi stood up and sat on the stool that Jia Luo pointed to, and said with a smile, "I used it, but the roast duck here at the Empress's place looks so delicious, I want to eat some more."
"Then go and wash your hands."
"yes."
Jialuo was initially worried that Tong Yi would be anxious after entering the palace, but she never expected that Tong Yi would be so easygoing.
"Your Majesty need not worry about Yi'er. Yi'er is naturally willing to marry for the sake of her father, mother, and the future of her siblings."
"Besides, now that I've entered the palace, with Your Majesty in charge of the harem, Yi'er has nothing to fear."
Therefore, Jialuo naturally wouldn't say anything more.
She thought for a moment, and then said to Tong Yi, "There aren't many concubines in the palace now, and the palace is spacious. You don't need to live in a side room; you can live in Minxiu Palace."
"Yes, Your Majesty the Empress."
"Alright, come and eat."
"yes."
The three girls sat together and happily finished their meal.
At this moment, Fu Lin sat cross-legged on a futon, his dark eyes slightly lowered, with the monk Xing Sen sitting in front of him.
After the sermon ended, Xing Sen asked, "Your Majesty, how have you been lately?"
When Fu Lin opened his eyes, the loneliness in his dark eyes had lessened, and even his spirits seemed much better.
"It's more peaceful than before."
He said it casually.
Xing Sen paused for a moment, then asked, "Has His Majesty encountered something joyful?"
Fu Lin curled his lips into a smile and said, "It's just that I've started to sleep better."
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he asked, "Xingsen, have you ever met the Chongzhen Emperor?"
Xingsen was stunned for a long time. He glanced at Fulin and slowly said, "This humble monk met Emperor Chongzhen when he was young."
"I have forgotten what he looked like."
"Um."
Fu Lin seemed to be asking the question casually, and then he nodded at the scriptures in front of Xing Sen.
Xingsen put aside his doubts and began his second sermon of the day.
However, Fulin's mind was not as chaotic as it had been when he listened to the sermons.
At this moment, his mind was filled with the image of the girl's radiant face when she said she wanted to see many places.
She probably really wanted to visit those places.
However, she was also someone who was willing to compromise herself; when she traveled, her life was quite different from that in the palace.
Fu Lin thought to himself.
…………
At this moment, in the Cining Palace.
Bumbutai sat on the couch, his expression solemn.
Sumala, standing to the side, also looked distressed.
"Sumala, do you think the men of the Aisin Gioro family are either Casanovas or something else entirely?"
Sumala sighed deeply. Today's matter was also due to Angrama's visit to the Cining Palace to pay her respects.
The last time the Emperor visited her Yonghe Palace, today she comes to pay her respects.
The Empress Dowager casually mentioned that if a prince were to be born first, the child would surely be showered with love and affection.
But Angelama blushed slightly, lowered her head and said in a low voice, "His Majesty was busy with state affairs and only stayed in my palace for a while that night before leaving."
After he finished speaking, the room fell silent.
Angrama seemed to realize that she had said something wrong, and quickly looked up and said, "But the Emperor and Empress's relationship is getting deeper and deeper. Wouldn't it be better if the Empress gave birth to a legitimate son first in the future?"
Bumbutai nodded slowly, a slight smile appearing on her face.
But as soon as Angrama left, the Empress Dowager's face darkened, and she ordered someone to bring out the registers of servants in the harem.
It clearly states that the emperor did not visit the palaces of other concubines.
He spent many nights in the Empress's palace, but the Empress's menstruation always came as usual each month.
Bumbutai looked grim. When she asked this question, Sumala replied, "His Majesty is still young and busy with state affairs. He doesn't seem to care much about matters of the harem."
"You don't care?"
Mubumutai slowly exhaled and said, "The imperial heir is not a child's play!"
"Now that the Emperor and Empress have been married for half a year, and the five concubines have been in the palace for two months, the Emperor is showing exclusive favor to the Empress, with whom he has had intimate relations?"
After she finished speaking, she took a deep breath and slowly closed her eyes.
Sumala dared not say anything more.
"Go ahead, I think that Tong family girl is quite nice."
Su Mala was startled, her expression changed drastically, and she hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, the Emperor will definitely not like what you are doing. The last time the Empress and the Emperor entered the bridal chamber, they used drugs, so the Emperor will definitely be on guard."
"You don't like it?"
"What can I do to please him? If he wants to do this job well, then he should shoulder the responsibility for the world!"
"The matter of the imperial heir is already being discussed in the court now, but it was said at the beginning that the emperor was too young."
"With no concubines left, and now that the number of concubines in the harem is gradually increasing, if there is no further news, the already fragile foundation of the dynasty may not be able to hold."
Mubumutai said coldly.
Sumala advised again, "The Emperor is so young yet he has managed to stabilize the court, and things are becoming increasingly stable. Even if he has no heir for a short time, I'm afraid..."
"Why put the cart before the horse?! He should have had an heir much earlier!"
Mubumutai interrupted Sumala, glanced at her, and said, "Go, have the Empress come first thing tomorrow morning, and that Tong family girl will be spared."
"Whether she gains power for a time or falls into obscurity depends on the power of her womb."
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